Electrolytes imbalance: a rare side effect of piperacillin/ tazobactam therapy.

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 20(6):419-20 (2010) PMID 20642978

Electrolytes imbalance has been reported with the use of several antimicrobials. We report a case of severe hypokalemia secondary to piperacillin/tazobactam in a patient with normal renal function and normal serum potassium level who had presented with a fractured neck of femur. The electrolytes abnormality was corrected once piperacillin/tazobactam was stopped. To our knowledge, this is the first case to describe an early severe hypokalemia induced by piperacillin/ tazobactam therapy in an otherwise healthy individual.